Sunday, April 29, 2007

I've been knitting all week, but no finished objects to show. Oh well. I guess if I just picked one thing and worked on it maybe, just maybe, I would get something done. But I just can't do that. There's so many projects I want to work on! For example, I just got a new "book" this week and I already want to make a few things out of it. Here's some pictures from Baby Knits Kit by Sara Lucas (one of the Imagiknit ladies!):

This one is definately going to be made soon....how cute would the little nephew look in this!

But, instead of casting on for this, I needed to cast on for the football hat, again. It was such a hit at little nephew's baby shower, that one of my SIL's friends requested it for her upcoming baby shower. So, quick knit, but its still distracting me from my other projects.

Here's the progress on my second more fun than cables sock:

These were an unfinished object for so long, that I know if I don't finish them now, it might be awhile. Even though I really really really want to cast on my new Rockin Sock Club socks (the yarn came this week! Gorgeous!!!). Although, when I finish these, I think I might also need to cast on some socks for Rowan. Not just any socks. Rowan wants Harry Potter socks. Do you know how hard it is to find sock yarn in the Gryffindor colors?? So, until I find the right colors, Rowan has "settled" for using this:

She says that they can be her "Hogwarts" socks. Its Curious Yarns in Autumn Earth. This was gifted to me in my very first Sock Swap (pre-blog). Yeah, Rowan has been eyeing this yarn since the day I got it!

And, my Log Cabin Blanket......well...its almost done (I'm weighing the yarn....seriously...that's a first for me... I just want to make sure I have enough for each strip). I'm going to save the pictures til its done (hopefully in the next week or so!). And, I also cast on another something something, just to make things fun. But I'm not really working on it too much (want to finish the blanket....one big project at a time!).

See....so much knitting to do! Have a great week! Happy Knitting! xoxo Irishgirlie

Sunday, April 22, 2007

Here is the Peony Sock, a UFO from Socktoberfest! that I pulled out last weekend. I finished the first sock yesterday. The pattern is the More Fun Than Cables Sock Pattern from Stitches of Violet. I realize now why it was on the needles for so long. It was my second attempt at a sock, on size one needles (my first sock being the cable footies from One Skein). I remember the pattern seeming so difficult at the time. However, when I picked it up last weekend I just flew through it. Its a mock-cable stitch and after a few repeats easy to remember.

I bought the yarn last year when I was inPortland, OR at Knit Purl. Its ShibuiKnits Sock yarn in the Peony colorway. Love the vibrant color. However, I'm realizing just how hard it is to take a good picture of a sock?! Rowan helped with this photo shoot and I still don't think I captured the cables or the colors accurately. Well, now I need to go cast on the second sock for the this so that maybe I finish it and can cross these socks off the UFO list. I have the next shipment of the Rockin Sock Club as motivation for me to hurry up and finish.

Here's a quick update on the Blanket that Rocks! It is 23" x 21.5" right now and I'm still loving it :) Its a great tv project or stitch n bitch project cause I can just knit knit knit. Love it! I'm hoping it will at least be 36" wide in the end. I weighed my yarn and I've used a little less than 2/3's of the yarn (I'm using three skeins of STR heavyweight). So I think I should make it. I did order an extra skein of In the Navy (the darkest color, the one in the middle). I'm thinking of having that be the trim all the way around when I get to end, so if I want it to be a bit longer/ wider I'll have some extra. I know Cara used 2 skeins of each color (for a total of 6 skeins) but her blanket was a lot bigger. If the Lucy in the Sky colorway had been available on the website (it now is), I probably would have used that and used four skeins total, but oh well. Let's see how this one turns out.

Friday, April 20, 2007

Yarn PRIZE Friday! I won my first blog contest a few weeks ago at Calling On Kahlo. She had a contest to name her new dog, and my suggestion, Maya, was picked! Yeah! And today, my prize came.....perfect timing!

And I've never used Trekking either! Are these colors not perfect for me, or what?! Seriously!

Monica did such a great job picking out my prize (and she even emailed me asking for my favorite yarns, colors, etc.!). Thank you thank you! And Happy Belated Birthday too!

Oh, and Bailey and Puddles wanted to say hi to Maya and the other dogs, too!

In other news, I was visiting new baby nephew this past weekend...he sure is a cutie! And I had to take a few pictures of how my Sister-in-law has decorated the nursery (okay, my brother helped, too, but you know, she has the style!).

Look at how the sheepie blanket is displayed. And hanging on the armoire is a baby sweater I knit right when I found out they were going to have a baby boy (pre-blog). Here's an up-close picture!

Its pretty hot up in Sacramento, so even if little guy doesn't wear this very often, at least I know his mommy uses it to decorate the nursery!

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Thanks for all the lovely comments on the Malabrigo scarf!! I've got some more details on it. The color was (are you ready for this?) "Pur Purs" (I think). I'm not sure because the color is handwritten and its not quite clear. There is a #132 by it if that helps. Of course, I don't see it online anywhere, but I do know Imagiknit has TONS of Malabrigo colorways. The other color I bought also seems to be a newer colorway because I don't see that one online either. Regarding the pattern, it was a free pattern that is written by the shop (its copyrighted). The name of the pattern is (hehe, ready) "Shop Sample Pattern #S316." Okay, hope that helps. And for those of you who live in the bay area (ahem...cpurl....) you MUST stop by the store!! Its one of my favorites!

And here's another request :)

Some progress pictures of my Log Cabin Blanket...aka Blanket that Rocks! (not because I think my skills are that cool or anything but because I am using Socks that Rock heavyweight as the ingredients). Its about 16" x 17" right now. Oh, I should probably tell you that although this yarn came from my stash, I don't appear to be decreasing my Blue Moon stash any as they just updated their site with new colors. Lunasea and Socktopus were calling my name. And I removed the ticker below (e.g. how many days since I last bought yarn....). Reason: self-explanatory. Ugh. Will try again. And don't think it was just the Blue Moon that did me in. Remember that Knit Happens sale that you pushers told me about?!

And since this post is about comments/requests, I'll share a funny dad story. Dad doesn't quite get the blogging thing, but he looks at the pictures and loves my knitting (and I bet if he's bored and nothing is new on the Notre Dame football sites he might even read it-yes, I know it is not football season, but there's recruiting he says). And he does see the comment section after each post. I think he and Rowan talk about it too (e.g., "Yeah, people actually comment on her blog dad."). Because last week my dad was quoting something to me about how many blogs there were and how some very high percentage (yeah, here's where I need to do some more fact finding for the story, oh well) of blogs rarely EVER get comments. And he beamed with pride and said, "So you're like in the top (whatever cool number I don't know)% of blogs probably." I laughed. He doesn't know about the yarn harlot. Or knit bloggers in general!!

Sunday, April 15, 2007

MMMMMMalabrigo!!! I love this stuff! I finished my Malabrigo scarf this weekend. The pattern is from Imagiknit (you know, they were the ones who also originated the My-so-called Scarf pattern too, if I recall correctly). It was a sample at their booth at Stitches and I loved it immediately! Seriously, one skein ($10.95) makes this gorgeous scarf!

Didn't really have the modeling vibe tonight, but was so excited to see it done. Its off in the mail tomorrow to my best friend in Colorado. Its 6" x 70" after a light steam blocking.

So as I finished knitting the Malabrigo scarf this weekend, I kept seeing shades of purpley-pink!

I love my blues, but I also love my shades of pink. My malabrigo scarf, my alpaca-silk ruffle scarf, my peony sock (a UFO I took out this weekend after months, not sure why originally... but when I saw these together...must have been thinkin' pink! more details about this sock this week), and my HWY 30 STR sock!

So after a VERY long drive home from Reno, Rowan and I arrived home, TIRED. But, then there was a package from my Knitty Secret Pal 8! There were a few other goodies in the package but my favorite was this!

She made me this perfect knitting bag! I've been eyeing them on her blog and at her etsy shop and she made me one!! And doesn't it just make you want to be on vacation and in Florida. Relaxing. Knitting. Notice how its blue too. I love my SP!

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

One more to go. Dad will be so happy. Of course, he already has a pair. But now he can rest assured, that if he were to lose one or get a hole in one, he has a replacement pair (well, right now, a replacement sock). Here's one finished Log Cabin Sock from Handknit Holidays, using Cascade Pastaza. They really are comfy around the house socks.

Here's an attempt for a closer look at the cables.

Speaking of socks, Rowan teased me as I chased down the mailman today. He left a package slip (not the package). We arrived home a second too late. But....I caught him just in time to receive my much anticipated package. See the button to the right (the pretty pink one...I finally figured out how to put a button on my...I mean "our" blog...hehehe). That's right! I joined the Rockin Sock Club (what, I hadn't already you say?). I wasn't going to. I didn't. Then I kinda regretted it. Then I went crazy at Stitches and didn't feel so bad. Then last week, I was randomly reading the Rockin Sock Blog (I live vicariously through everyone else) and saw there were 20 openings left. I called at 5:45pm, thinking they probably weren't there. But those hard working ladies at Blue Moon were. And within two minutes.....I was signed up. Funny thing, when I told Rowan....she was totally supportive. I love my family. Of course, when the package came today, I showed her the cool binder and the place to keep track of family and friends sock measurements, she stuck her foot out right away (hmmm...I guess that's why she was so supportive!). So, all in all, it was a good sock day :)

Happy Knitting! Off to Reno for the weekend to celebrate my great-aunt's 82nd birthday!! xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Sunday, April 8, 2007

Happy Easter!! Just a quick weekend knitting update! Its been all about the Log Cabin....

First, Log Cabin Socks from Handknit Holidays. I gave dad a pair for Christmas, and he loved them so much, he wanted another pair. Another EXACT pair. Same yarn and everything (Cascade Pastaza). I've been dreading making the exact same thing, but once I got started, I remembered enjoying knitting socks on a size 6 needle! I'm just about to turn the heel on the first sock.

But I've been a bit distracted by this Log Cabin...my Log Cabin Blanket in Socks That Rock heavyweight (as inspired by Cara and Mason-Dixon Knitting). I've said it before, but I'll say it again, I LOVE this yarn! It is soooooo soft. I love how the colors are looking together, too.Here's an up-close look. Purty! And, silly knit-blogger me was so excited when Cara posted a "Have fun!" comment on my last post. Her work is amazing!

And, a not-log cabin knitting project. Can we say MMMMMMalabrigo? A fun pattern from Imagiknit (one of my favorite stores!) that I saw on display at Stitches West. So of course, I had to get some Malabrigo for it!

I think the drop stitches will look a bit nicer once its blocked.

Wow, lots of weekend knitting, right? Well, that's because yesterday we drove up to Sacramento (love a two hour car ride if I don't have to drive!) to visit my little nephew!! He was born on Monday (two weeks early!)! Here's some pics of the little guy!

Don't worry, he woke up plenty throughout the day. I just loved these pictures!! I'm a biased Auntie, I know. But isn't he adorable?!

Thursday, April 5, 2007

My Knitty Secret Pal did it again! Yesterday, Rowan and I both got a package filled with Easter yummies. Notice one bag of candy is already missing (Rowan was so excited that the package was for her she ate the mini-eggs before I could even take a picture!!). Thanks SPGR8!! Our Easter weekend will involve meeting my new nephew!! Baby Connor was born on Tuesday!! Yeah!! Mom, dad, and little guy are all doing well. Can't wait to meet him!

So last night I cast on for.........

my log cabin blanket. I'm so excited to start this project, which was inspired by January One's gorgeous log cabin blankets, using none other than, Socks that Rock! So of course, this is going to be named, The Blanket that Rocks (I hope!). I'm using STR heavyweight in Blue Moonstone (on top), Midsummer's Night (bottom left), and In the Navy (bottom right). Of course, its all garter stitch and its on size 6 needles, so ummm...we'll see how long this blanket rocks?! But I sooooooo love the yarn!! I have a feeling this will be a WIP for awhile...we'll see.

Wednesday, April 4, 2007

Here are my Thuja socks! I was inspired by Zknitter's Thuja's! I love this pattern and I loved the yarn (can you see what the colors reminded me of...I used to love these candies as a kid..bought some to show you...tried one...wow..very sweet and coconutty! Not sure I could really eat another though.). I used 2 skeins of Artyarns Supermerino (the pattern called for three...but for a man's sock, so I used a size 5 needle, made mine a bit shorter in the leg, and squeeked by...barely!).Another peek. Rowan really wants this pair....I haven't decided if I'm going to give them up or not. I could make another using Socks That Rock heavyweight (like Zonda did!). Gee, not sure if I have any STR though...ha ha ha... Now you all know (thanks for drooling all over the pretty yarn!).

Here's my ruffle scarf! I was a busy knitter this past weekend (finished the scarf and started the socks). I used 4 skeins of Debbie Bliss alpaca silk that my Knitty Secret Pal 8 sent me. She too made a few, and her's are gorgeous using different colors. I modified the potato chip scarf like she and Jessica did (cast on 125 stitches). Love love love this scarf and the yarn makes it sooo drapey.

So what's on the needles now?? A malabrigo scarf and a pair of Log Cabin Socks from Handknit Holiday for dad (yes, the exact same pair of socks that I gave him for Christmas. Exact same yarn too.). I just finished Thuja last night, so I haven't decided if I want to pick up an old WIP, or start something new....like the Monkey socks that Zknitter just did! Yeap, I'm only doing socks if Z does them first...hehehehe. We'll see!